Darrell

I load the bayou 125 FP's at 1.070 with 3.5 of Bullseye for accuracy, 4.3 grains of 231 for power factor of 130-135. I recently worked up loads for that bullet in my new accushadow. Do a search for my name. I just posted a pdf fill for all the Bayou 9mm bullets I have tested to date.

Color only means something to me when I do some sorting. Just didn't feel like taking the color off.

AMy latest database of load data I compiled using Bayou 9mm Bullets.

The other companies are using the same coatings as Bayou's as Donnie is the distributor for the chemicals in the US. There are different colors available, and some companies are choosing a color to distinguish them from other companies. You can purchase the coatings directly from Donnie if you cast your and wanted to coat them instead of lubing. With the coating on the bullets, they are a little faster than just plain lead.

Per a previous post, I ran an OAL test for 125 RN and FP Bayou Bullets which are coated. The best OAL came out to be 1.130 for the RN, and 1.070 for the FP. This is from 3 different guns, 2 of them used in a Ransom rest. Will be posting updated info after I wring out the new accushadow, but best accuracy with these bullets have been under 1.6". My goal is to try to get 1" at 25 yds with lead coated bullets which is what I get in all my 9mm's with Jacketed bullets.

Update for these bullets, I ran some test an different OAL for the 125 RN and 125 FP's The best OAL for the Roundnose is 1.130, and the Flatpoints were 1.070. This was tested in 3 different 9mm's, Accu-Shadow, EAA Limited, and DW PM9 with Kart Barrel. All these barrels have different throats and it didn't matter. I used my Ransom rest for the DW and Accu-Shadow, and benched the EAA. Crimp for these were tested also, from .355 to .380, and I found .379 works best for lead and coated bullet, and .3785 was best on Jacketed. If you are seeking accuracy and not power factor, 3.5 of Bullseye, or 3.5 of N310 worked out best. I'll have some new data posted soon from the new Accu-shadow testing Factory and Bayou bullets. They claim a 50% improvement in accuracy at 50 yds, but the best I've gotten so far is 30%.

I shoot PD 124's JHP in all my guns. I load them to 1.080. I have done a test of longest OAL in all my barrels and can load my CZ out to 1.115. I have the new accushadow. My load data for this bullet for 130-140 power factor and accuracy is 4.8 N340, 4.3 231/HP38, 4.0 /tightgroup, 5.6 gr of Power Pistol. For a light load that is accurate (1.09" at 25 yds in accushadow) is 3.5 gr of Bullseye. Do a search for my name here and you should find a spreadsheet I uploaded with all kinds of 9mm load data.

Darrell,In your opinion, what is the best Shadow, Bayou bullet, Any powder you've tested combo for accuracy and the USPSA game? Smoke, manageable recoil, etc...Just curious.That is a TON of work on that sheet! Thanks for sharing! I prefer bayou 135's with aa2 in my Shadow, best accuracy was 124 JHP's but the power factor was over 145

Bayou bullets makes a 160 RN that I tried with 2.8 of WST at 1.150". Very soft load.

Would be nice if you added accury data also, I do.

UPS just delivered 6k Precision Delta 124 JHP's I ordered Feb 4th. Had no clue they were shipped, no email, tracking etc. but glad they came.

I use AA2 with Bayou 135 gr bullets in my Shadow also. If you look at my Bayou Bullet test thread, you see some loads using AA2. Do a search.

Hornady 124 xtp's in my experience worked best at 1.085, and I crimp .3785. 4.0-4.2 of tightgroup. In my Dan Wesson I get 1.25" 10 shot group at 25 yds in the ransom rest, and have shot 3/4" 5 shot group benched with my EAA Limited gun.

Yes I do, but I put it in PDF to keep it from being modified. PM your email and I'll send it to you.

I tested the 160's today with 3.1 gr of N320, I think the load I'll use will be 3.0 grs with this bullet. Others had recommended 2.7 to 2.8, but in my Shadow, I had to bump to 3.0 to get above 130 PF which is what I load my uspsa match loads to. Elevation, temp, and humidity here in Louisiana is different so my data is for my guns here.

I compiled all my Bayou Bullet test data in one PDF file for you perusal. It includes chrono and accuracy in 3 guns, My Dan Wesson PM9 which I just changed to a Kart Barrel, my EAA limited 9mm my most accurate 9mm, and my CZ Shadow my production work horse. The CZ isn't as accurate as I would like but I'm planning on getting the new model with the barrel bushing mod that supposedly cut the 50 yd groups in half. I normally like the Bayou 135's as my main go to bullet, but now I like the feel of the 160's with N320 for USPSA, and the 105's with WST for steel. If anyone has any suggestions or comments I'd appreciated it. Hopefully this info can save you guys some time and money in your pursuit for a load with Bayou's. As always YMMV, so start low and work up. These loads were all tested by me in my guns. Bayou Bullets Compiled Test Data.pdf

I decided to test some Bayou 105 grain bullets with WST powder. Yesterday I loaded them to 1.065, then today I shortened them to 1.045 to see if I get better results. 3.3 gr of WST is what I'm going with. I've included a pdf file with all the pertinent data. My gun has been re-barreled with a Kart barrel, so I tested with both barrels. As with all my data is the accuracy using my Ransom Rest. Bayou 105gr.pdf

I only had 60 bullets to try out, and a buddy wanted me to test with WST. I'll do a more thorough test with other powders when Donnie has more bullets for me. I just loaded up some 135's today with N340, WST, and AA5 to test Monday. I'm using my Dan Wesson with new Kart barrel now for my test in the Ransom rest, I hadn't checked it out with my most accurate load yet but my test from previous barrel before the change with known factory loads did produce a 23% reduction in group size. The Kart has a shorter lead than the factory barrel. WST hasn't been a good powder for accuracy in 9mm in any bullets I tested so far. N340 and Power Pistol has been my best powders for accuracy.

I've never gotten good accuracy with WST in 9mm. Best accuracy has always been with N340, Blue Dot, and Power Pistol. I used WST at the request of another shooter.

Today I decided to test some 160 bayou bullets Donnie gave me to try out. I shot them at 25 yards with my Ransom Rest out of my Dan Wesson PM9 with new Kart Barrel. I wanted to try WST powder also so I have attached a pdf file with all the chrono and accuracy data. I did 10 round groups but since my first shot is usually low with the first round hand cycled, I also included best 9 of ten. The cluster with 3.1 and 3.2 were about the same so if I were loading this load I'd use 3.1 gr. Even the min power factor was above 131. I left out the chrono data for 3.3 somehow, but I wouldn't go that high again anyway. Bayou 160 WST.pdf

A slower powder like P.P., blue dot, hs6, N340 perform best when loaded near max. Doesn't perform well at lower charge rates. You need a faster powder that works for the power factor/velocity you want to shoot a certain bullet at. Say you are looking for 1100 fps with a 125 gr bullet, look at load data in the books and see what powder is near max at 1100 fps. Start 10% less and work up. Some powders work better for lead, and aren't accurate with jacketed and vise versa, my current project is to test 160gr bayou's with WST. That powder didn't perform well for me in 9mm in the past with lighter bullets, but it may work with the 160's. I'm also going to use it with .38 wadcutters that weigh 140gr. Someone else is reporting excellent 50 yd groups with WST but their barrel twist rate is 1 in 14"' my smiths are 1 in 18 3/4".

You can use Bayou bullets in compensated guns because the coating will not come off, but moly coated bullets will lead up the comp. the coating on bayou is hard, moly just has a wax coating to keep the moly from rubbing off. Bayou' s have been tested over 1500 fps.

THANK YOU DARRELL!! Right on the money! Based on this post alone, I went out and picked up a pound of Power Pistol. This is the target I produced: This is 124gr Frontier Plated w/5.8gr Power PIstol at 1.155" OAL. 10 rounds at 15yds from a bench. Very nice group, the couple of flyers may be due to plated bullets, jacketed should produce one hole like the other eight did. It did in my guns. Power pistol is great, but loud as hell. Worked up loads in Glock, M&P, and Shadow, funny how a couple of tenths of a grain makes a difference in different guns.

Bayou 147 @ 1.145 with 3.4 gr of W231 Coated flat point.

Darrell, This is excellent info! I have a couple of follow up questions: 1) What do you mean by 0.010" off the rifling? 2) What is your experience with plated bullet? What different technique would you apply. 3) What is the bullet length of say an MG 124gr JHP? I have a bunch of RN plated bullets, but I have a theory about case volume (can't prove it yet). Would it be true to say that if I take the length of my RN, minus the length of your JHP, and add the difference to your OAL to get my OAL, we should have similar loads? 1. I make a round long where the ogive touches the lands of the rifling. I take the barrel out, put the round in and try to twist it, I decrease the overall length until the round twist freely meaning that the bullet ogive isn't touching the lands, and the case is headspacing in the barrel. I then decrease the overall length another .010 inch then start my loading from there. 2. Plated bullets will never be as accurate as jacketed. Use minimum or no crimp, do not try to push the velocity past 1100 fps. I had some good loads with Berry's plated in the past using 231 and Tightgroup powders, but that was with 147 gr bullets. 3. An M.G. 124 JHP is .576" long. When I load this bullet now I load at 1.110" because that length works in all my 9mm's and gives great performance. Best accuracy with this bullet for me is with N340 and Power Pistol.